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The First to Go

Posted in Administration on Monday June 29 2009 @ 7:43pm

Court reporters, long a cost drain on ever-technologically-advancing courts, will be the first casualties in the court budget battles. For a long time, court reporters have promoted their superior skills, believing they can do the job better than any machine.

But the time has come. Between bottomed-out budgets and better technology, court reporters are being cut.

If/when this does happen, please oh please don't just take their keys and tell them to run along home. Have a little class, unlike the way this story unfolded: Downsizing Cuts One Court Reporter at South Lee Courthouse, Cindy Lutz, Fort Madison Daily Democrat (June 29, 2009).

Hawkeye Budget Slides

Posted in Administration on Monday June 29 2009 @ 6:40pm

The cuts keep coming in Iowa.

Recall that several prospective cutbacks, including reducing the number of magistrates, furloughs, and other measures narrowly escaped the chopping block.

Now it's down to the wire, and not even the increased number of courthouse weddings will save the budget.

Fifteen positions will be cut; 50 current vacancies will not be filled. Court reporters make up the bulk of the casualties, with 13 losing their jobs.

See Iowa Courts Cut $5.4M from 2010 Budget, AP/Chicago Tribune (June 25, 2009).

Wanna Be Startin' Something

Posted in Family on Sunday June 28 2009 @ 6:48am

Does Michael Jackson's ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, have a claim to custody of their (?) children? Rowe relinquished her rights to the children after a brief marriage. Now what?

A new fact pattern is born every minute, it seems, at least in the wacky intersection of family law and international popdom.

Let's hope the young Jacksons are spared being stuck in the middle, and that someone decent will be there for them. May they get plenty of visits with La Liz!

L.A. family judges have their work cut out for them. We wish them luck, too.

See Court Fight over Jackson's Children Looms, Anthony McCartney, Washington Post (June 28, 2009).

Attic Geek

Posted in Courthouses on Friday June 26 2009 @ 7:42am

What's in your attic?

A Polk County, Florida, judge was surprised to find the only set of blueprints of the local historic courthouse in his.

The discovery allowed the county historical commission to avoid knocking down walls to see what was there. Now, the refurbishing can begin.

See Judge's Attic Held Key to Courthouse's Revival, Suzie Schottelkotte, The Ledger (June 26, 2009).

WTF Does This Mean?

Posted in Truth Is Stranger Than (Legal) Fiction! on Thursday June 25 2009 @ 7:51pm

Yet another reason to ban texting in the courtroom -- you could get caught taking cash for not testifying.

A recent Cincinnati case involved a witness who texted to another: Bra this is Derrick I just got ah stack to not testify. Come to joe house im on the run to.

No, we're not able to decipher it, either, but prosecutors (probably thanks to some very young assistants) somehow think it means that a witness was paid off.

See Text Message Chills Courtroom, Sharon Coolidge, Cincinnati Enquirer (June 25, 2009).

Cash Found in Courthouse

Posted in Truth Is Stranger Than (Legal) Fiction! on Tuesday June 23 2009 @ 10:06pm

It's not every day a court finds hundreds of dollars!!!

Unfortunately for one Alabama county, it was all Confederate money.

The plan is to make it part of a public display, not pay the water and sewer bill.

See Like-New Confederate Cash Found in Alabama Courthouse, AP, oanow.com (June 22, 2009).

Dropping the Percentage Axe in Sarasota

Posted in Administration on Wednesday June 17 2009 @ 4:21am

Two percent milk.

Fifty percent chance.

Less than one percent.

We hear about percentages every day (more often if we're in the fifth grade.) A five percent budget reduction sounds like nothing, doesn't it? But translated into real dollars, it's negative $335,057 for the Manatee County Circuit Court in Sarasota.

That means, too, laying off eleven full- and seven part-time employees. Multiply eighteen times two and you get a bare minimum of thirty-six people (the employee plus one immediate family member) directly affected.

Think of that next time you see a five percent decrease.

See Court Clerk to Cut 11 Full-Time Jobs, Herald Tribune (June 17, 2009).

Am I Blue

Posted in Hype on Monday June 15 2009 @ 8:57pm

If you're seeing blue in Pittsburgh, prostate cancer awareness is the reason.

The Allegheny Courthouse fountain (see link, which includes a photo, below) has been dyed blue to promote prostate cancer awareness and a Father's Day 5K/10K run.

Last fall it was dyed pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

See Downtown Fountain Dyed Blue for Cancer Awareness, WTAE (June 15, 2009), and The Point Is Pink in Pittsburgh, WTAE (September 30, 2009), and be healthy!

Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Posted in Jury on Monday June 15 2009 @ 8:48pm

Ever have that dream where you show up for a class you forgot to attend and have to take a test?

What about the dream where you're an alternate juror, but somehow get mixed up in deliberations?

That dream unfortunately came true for a Harris County, Texas, alternate. The alternate was, however, fully clothed.

See Retrial Begins after Juror Mix-Up, KTRK News (June 15, 2009).

Video Video

Posted in Jury on Friday June 12 2009 @ 7:33am

Potential jurors in Oregon will learn about the task before them from a new orientation video.

Justice for All can be viewed on the Internet.

According to Judge Janice R. Wilson, Circuit Judge of Multnomah County in Portland, Oregon, The video was the work of a subcommittee of the Chief Justice's Access to Justice for All Committee. That subcommittee was chaired by Judge Eveleen Henry from Lane County. Fabulous staff coordination and support was provided by Cheryl Stone of the State Court Administrator's Office.

A good juror orientation (video or not) can prevent a host of problems -- from general confusion to serious mistrials.

Thanks to Judge Wilson for the tip!

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